NLT says its Northern Light Digital Network will increase worker safety and enhance mine productivity better than any of the alternatives currently available.
The equipment delivers Wi-Fi tracking of personnel and equipment, environmental monitoring and two-way messaging using its ultra-light cap lamp. A critical feature of the NLT products is that they all run on the same network and utilise the fibre optics already being installed in the mine.
NLT’s products have been developed in response to the well-defined need expressed by the underground coal mining industry to have a communications and monitoring system that stays up and running in the event of a mine emergency – when two-way communication and monitoring are critical to saving lives.
After being nominated NLT Centre of Excellence for IS (intrinsically safe) Development, NLT Australia has been committed to producing certified IS mining-specific products. NLT technology includes:
The intrinsically safe wireless access point
Miner’s cap lamp with built-in two-way messaging capabilities
Tagging and tracking (typically of personnel and vehicles)
Software applications for monitoring, tracking, communications and messaging
The cap lamp is a core technology and is the means by which miners are connected to the network. The cap lamps are fitted with the ability to accommodate an array of valuable devices, such as the Northern Light Digital Messenger, messaging, paging, location tracking and emergency warning.
Similarly, lamps with digital radio frequency identification tags provide the opportunity to track the location of personnel to facilitate evacuation procedures and provide proximity warnings to heavy equipment operators.
Although NLT Australia is less than two years old, the company has been producing the highest quality products for the mining industry for more than 20 years; products that have helped to revolutionise the way the mining industry views safety standards.
The NLT product range utilises existing mining network infrastructure, such as fibre-optic systems, which allow for very large cost savings to the mine itself as NLT products can be easily integrated into existing infrastructure (reducing requirements for retraining personnel).
NLT Australia has taken commercially available technology (for example, standard wireless Ethernet) and developed new and innovative applications for use in underground or hazardous environments.
The company was also the first to develop the prototype of a new remote telemetry system called Wi-O, that is set to revolutionise the way data is collected in the underground mining industry.
The product will enable the user to monitor any piece of equipment – using 802.11 digital wireless technology (much like your office or home) – and connect the mine’s own infrastructure to the top end supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system or individual PCs via a web browser.
The system will function as part of the NLT digital network, which greatly reduces costs and dramatically increases productivity while providing consummate safety. The product will also allow mines to monitor other inputs (gas sensors or pump stations through remote wireless robust connection, for example).
Mining equipment is often subjected to harsh temperature ranges, which can cause problems for electronics. In the past these electronics would have either required large airconditioners (high cost and power requirements) or failed within the first few months.
However, NLT Australia has developed the Ultracool enclosure utilising smart design and low power, providing a low maintenance thermoelectric cooling system that draws heat away from the enclosure.
NLT said its range of specialist equipment is designed to help maintain the reputation of Australian coal mines as among the safest in the world due to the industry's ongoing commitment to research and development.
“By addressing the specific industry needs, [providing the] intrinsically safe wireless access point, cap lamps with built-in two-way messaging, tagging and tracking, and Ultracool for Australia’s harsh climate, NLT Australia will be assisting in upholding Australia’s position at the forefront of world safety for underground coal mining,” NLT Australia said.
For more information go to www.nltinc.com or visit NLT Australia at the Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition 2006 (QME 2006) on July 25-27 at stand 9009.
